Robust Detection of Scatterable Minefields through Joint Sensor Fusion

The objective of the proposed Phase II effort is to develop and demonstrate and algorithm suite, called the Joint Multisensor Minefield Detection Software (JMMDS), to enable enhanced detection of surface scatterable minefields from airborne multisensor imagery. The Phase I program demonstrated the feasibility of our proposed methodology for registration, joint exploitation and fusion of minefield discriminants based on decision features derived from data collected by a multispectral MWIR camera and a laser-illuminated near-IR imager. Limited testing demonstrated performance levels consistent with U.S. Army operational objectives for airborne minefield detection performance. In Phase II, we will further develop the algorithms and deliver a refined suite of image registration, feature extraction, and joint fusion as a set of software modules that operate within a commercial image processing environment. The algorithm suite will be focused on application to the U.S. Army ASTAMIDS program, but extendable to potential future systems with additional sensor modalities. This algorithm software will be a prototype system for validation of the JMMDS sensor fusion concept and will provide a baseline for transition into ground stations or embedded processors during a Phase III transition.